"As of now, all the conditions have been created for us to get this city back, but with ten times fewer losses compared to Russian ones," the general said.
"That's because the positioning of Russian troops looks like a bow focused on Bakhmut. They are half-encircled now. We can't help but take advantage of this."
When asked how long it would take to regain the city, Syrskyi didn't say.
"I'll do my best in order for it to happen sooner," he said.
"The road to Debaltsevo goes through Bakhmut, as well as roads to Siversk, Horlivka, Kostyantynivka, and Slovyansk. All the roads meet here in this center. Russian troops can assault in three operational directions using the developed road net."
The Bakhmut area has many dominating heights, which allows it to control a significant area in the vicinity of the city, the general said.
"This increases its role as a bridgehead for further offensive actions," Syrskyi explained.
The next city, Chasiv Yar, lies just three kilometers away from Bakhmut.
"And it's important for us here to stop the enemy in Bakhmut on low-lying land. I consider it one of the biggest Wagner Group mercenary mistakes to get fully in Bakhmut, where it suffered extreme losses in personnel. They have actually lost their fighting capacity," he said.